"Look!" continued he, pointing at the meadow. "The flocks there are numerous, but in my youth they were greater in number. But who is the cause of this? No other than Set, whom human power cannot vanquish. This meadow, great today, was once greater, and from this spot they could not see the desert, which now is a terror.
"When the gods are battling, men can do nothing; where Set conquers
Osiris, who can bar the way to him?"
The worthy Otoes finished; the prince hung his head. In school he had heard not a little about the love of Osiris and the malice of Set, and while still a child he was angry that no one had forced Set to a final reckoning.
"When I grow up," thought he at that time, "and carry a javelin, I will seek out Set and we will make a trial."
And he was looking now at that measureless sand space, that kingdom of the ominous godhead which was decreasing the income of Egypt; but he had no thought to do battle with Set. For how can man fight with the desert? Man can only avoid it or perish.
CHAPTER XXII
HIS stay in Aa had so wearied Ramses that to seek rest and rally his thoughts he commanded to stop all solemnities in his honor, and directed that during his journey people should never come forth to greet him.
The prince's retinue were astonished, even somewhat offended; but they carried out the command, and Ramses again found some quiet. He had time to review his troops, which was his most agreeable occupation, and he could collect his scattered thoughts in some measure.
Shut up in the remotest corner of the palace, the prince began to consider how far he had carried out the commands of the pharaoh his father.
He had surveyed Aa with his own eyes, its fields, towns, population, officials. He had verified the fact that the eastern edge of the province was yielding to the advance of the desert. He had observed that laborers were indifferent and stupid; that they did only what was commanded, and that with unwillingness. Finally, he had convinced himself that really faithful and loving subjects were to be found only among the aristocracy, for they were related to the family of the pharaohs, or were of the noble order, and were grandsons of the men who had fought under the great Ramses.